I am making an Orange Butter Cake with Orang Cream Buttercream filling. I have a bottle of Monin Vanilla syrup - would that taste okay for a simple syrup? I want to make sure this cake is super moist. The icing will be buttercream dream so not everything is orange flavored. Also, if I use the Monin syrup, how do I apply it? Do I just use a silicone brush? And how much do I use (I've got an 8" and a 12" round)? I don't want to make this cake the least bit soggy. HELP!!!

I don't like the silicone brush...actually what I do is make my simple syrup and put a bit, a few ounces...4 ounces and 2 ounce of liquor or enough extract or a touch of syrup ..just to give it a little "UMPH" and I just spray my cakes, wait a bit..then ice them as normal...

I don't drag a sopping wet brush onto my cake and have some spots super wet while others are dry. I will also spray under the cake..but it on the board and aim more to the edges and sides..those tend to be a little dryer than the rest of the cake.

HTH